Lock for spindle-nuts



No. 750,425. PATBNTBD JAN. ze, 1904.

s. c. BAUGHN, JB. LOCK FON SPINDLE NUTS.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.14, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented January 26, 1904.

PATENT @Eric-E.

sAMUEL c. RAUGHN, JR., or BERTRAND, MISSOURI, ASSIcNoR or oNE- HALE rroHENRY L. EINLEY, or BERTRAND, MISSOURI.

LOCK FOR SPINDLE-NUTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 750,425, dated January26, 1904,

Application filed October 14, 1903. Serial No. 177,068. (No model.)

Lock for Spindle-Nuts, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in locking devices for axle-nuts.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction oflocking devices for preventing axle-nuts from accidentally unscrewingand to provide a simple, inexpensive, and efficient one capable ofsecure] y holding an axle-nut on an axle and adapted to permit the sameto be readily removed when desired.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of an axle-skein and anaxle-nut provided with a locking device constructed in accordance withthis invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the same.Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 4 is a detail perspectiveview of the outer end of the axleskein. Fig. 5 is a detail View of thelockingspring. Fig'. 6 is a plan View illustrating the construction ofthe approximately L-shaped Y arm and showing the arrangement of theouter portion thereof with relation to the outer face of the nut.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

1 designates an axle-skein, provided at its outer end at the shoulder 2,formed by reducing and threading it for the reception of an axle-nut 3,with notches 1l, adapted to be engaged by a locking-spring 5 forpreventing the nut from accidentally unscrewing. The

locking-spring 5, which is circular, is constructed of steel or othersuitable material, and its ends are separated, as clearly illustrated inFig. 5 of the accompanying draw- ()nc end of the spring is clampedbeings.

tween the axle-nut and the shoulder 2 of the axle-skein, and its otherend -is provided with an L-shaped arm 6, and it has a tooth or engagingportion 7 at the angle formed by the arm and the body portion of thespring for engaging one of the notches of the shoulder 2 of theaxle-skein.` The circular body portion of the spring is received withinan annular groove 8 of the nut, and the L-shaped arm 6 extends outwardthrough an opening 9 adjacent to the iiange 10 of the nut. The annulargroove 8, which is arranged at the inner end of the threaded portion ofthe nut, is fiared, and the circular body portion of the spring isflared or set at an angle to conform to the configuration of the nut andthe adjacent portion of the axle-skein. The Vlocking device isapplicable to carriages andV vehicles other than heavy wagons employingaxle-skeins, and when it is used on such lighter vehicles the bodyportion of the springs will be made square in crosssection to conform tothe configuration of the groove of the axle-nut and the pivot of thespindle.

When the spring is not applied to the axle, its end ll is laterallyoffset from the tooth or engaging portion 7, so that the latter will beforced into engagement with the axle when the body portion of the springis placed under tension by screwing the axle-nut on the axleskein.l/Vhen the nut is screwed on the axle, the spring automatically engagesone of the notches of the shoulder 2 and prevents the nut fromaccidentally unscrewing. Should it be desiredto remove thc nut, theL-shaped arm is drawn outward to hold the/spring out of engagement withthe `notches until it has passed the same by the rotation of the nut,which may be 'engaged by any ordinary wrench. The L-shaped arm isadapted to be forced outward by the wrench in applying the latter to thenut, and the outer portion of the L-shapod arm is arranged near theouter face of' the nut in convenient position to enable it to beoperated by a wrench to obviate the necessity of disengaging' the springby hand.

1t will be seen that the device is exceedingly simple and inexpensive inconstruction,

that it is applicable to Wagons, carriages, and analogous vehicles, andthat it is capable of securely holding a nut and of permitting the sameto be readily removed When desired.

What I claim isl. In a device of the class described, the combination ofan axle provided at its outer portion with a notch, an axle-nut havingan opening, a circular spring arranged at the inner end of the axle-nutand encircling the axle, and provided with an engaging portion arrangedto interlock with the said notch, said spring being provided With an armextending through the said opening, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of an axleprovided at its outer end, adjacent to its threaded portion, with ashoulder and.having a notch therein, an axlenut having a groove andprovided with an opening communicating therewith, and a circular springarranged in the groove of the nut and provided with an arm extendingoutward from one end of the spring through the said opening and arrangedon the exterior of the nut in position to be engaged by a Wrench, saidspring being provided at the inner end of the arm with an engagingportion to interlock with the said notch, substantially as described. Intestimony that I claim the foregoing' as my own Ihave hereto aflxed mysignature in the presence of two Witnesses.

SAMUEL C. BAUGHN, JR. Witnesses:

L. C. GATY, Gr. R. WALLACE.

